Method and apparatus for cooling produce by alternate dipping and draining



Nov. 23, 1948. F. J. M MICHAEL 2,454,704

IETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATEVDIPPING DRAINING Filed Oct. 2, 1944 '11 Shoots-Sheet 1 Nov. 23, 1948.

F. J. M MICHAEL 2,454,704 'IETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATE DIPPING AND DRINING Filed Oct. 2. 1944 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 23, 1948. F. J. MCMICHAEL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATE DIPPING AND DRAINING Filed Oct. 2, 1944 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 NOV. 23, 1948. McMlCI-[AEL 2,454,704

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATE DIPPING AND DRAINING Filed Oct. 2, 1944 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 a Fig.2

O M Y I I @3-123! 4 67d O 1943- F. J. M MICHAEL 2,454,

"ETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATE DIPPING AND DRAINING Filed Oct. 2, 1944 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 F. J. M MICHAEL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATE DIPPING AND DRAINING Nmv. 1948.

11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 2, 1944 Ix "u on E W i A Nov. 23, 1948. F. J. McMlCHAEL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATE DIPPING AND mumme 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 2, 1944 NOV. 23, 1948. McMlQHAEL 2,454,704

IETHODAND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATE DIPPING,AND DRAINING ,Filed Oct. 2, 1944 1 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed 001;. 2, 1944 IETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR- COOLING PRODUCE BY LTERNATE DIPPING AND DRAINING Nov. 23, 1948. F. J. M MlCI-IAEL 2,454,704

11 Sheqts-Sheet 9 'F.'J. MOMICHAEL Nov. 23, 1948. 2,454,704

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR cooune rnonucz BY ALTERNATE nrrrme AND mumme Y Filed on 2, 1944 11 Sheets-Sheet 1o Fig.3].

III I/ B W/I471 Nov. 23, 1948. F. J. M MICHAEL IETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATE DIPPING AND DRAINING 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Oct. 2. 1944 Patented Nov. 23, 194$ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR C(TOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATE DIPPING AND DRAINING Floyd 1. McMichael, Orlando, Fla. i Application October 2, 1944, Serial No. 558,843

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for processing produce.

Spoilage of the produce not only during shipment but also thereafter is largely determined by the thoroughness with which the produce is chilled before shipment and hence, uniform chilling oi the packages through and through becomes of paramount importance. The problem is not alone one of how cold the refrigerant may be or whether the packages have been immersed in a refrigerant of given temperature for a given length of time, but primarily whether or not the produce in the middle of the package is as well and uniformly chilled as the outer layers of produce in the package, else spoilage will later begin in the middle of the package and spread outwardly to ailect the produce lying near the perimeter of the package.

It is customary to pack produce more or less tightly in boxes or crates and, in accordance with prevalent practice heretofore, the crates or boxes are lowered into a tank of refrigerant at one end of the tank, moved, while submerged, through the refrigerant to the other end of the tank, and then raised out of the tank at the latter end thereof. However, experience has shown that the foregoing procedure does not accomplish the uniform chilling of the produce toward the middle portions of the boxes or crates.

The faulty result noted is caused by the fact that when the package is first lowered into the refrigerant and the liquid permeates to the center of the package, the liquid within the package becomes more or less entrapped therein by the produce, due to the tight packing thereof. As a consequence, the liquid within the package is moved more or less as a body with the package as the submerged package progresses from one end of the tank to the other.

As will be perceived, the body of refrigerating liquid within the central portion of the package will thus become heated by the produce and can escape only with difficulty to be replaced by fresh cold liquid so that but a comparatively small exchange of heat takes place between the entrapped liquid and the produce at the central portion of the package. As a result, the produce at the central portion of the package is ineffectually chilled-and subsequent spoilage ensues. Remedies have been tried, such as making the refrigerating tank longer. This expedient, however, is not only ineffectual but .also decreases the volume of produce which can be handled in a given time, due to the longer interval required for the package to move through the tank. Also,

8 Claims. (Cl. 62-170) the expedient of slowing down the speed of progress of the packages through the refrigerant has been tried as well as the expedient of using a colder refrigerant, but in all such instances, the result has been the same, namely, ineffectual and non-uniform chilling of the produce at the central portion of the package.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus wherein a package of produce, referring to a single package as typical, will be uniformly and thoroughly chilled throughout, so that the produce at the central portion of the package will be equally chilled with the same uniformity and thoroughness as the outer layers or courses of produce of the package.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus wherein a package of produce will be alternately dipped into the refrigerating liquid and intermediately drained as a continuing cycle, so that the heated refrigerant at the central portion of the package will have ample opportunity to flow out while the package is being drained, to be replaced by fresh cold refrigerant while the package is being dipped, the cycle being repeated many times to provide for the uniform and thorough chilling of the produce at the central portion of the package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus wherein, by reason of the continuous ebb and flow of refrigerant t, through the package, the produce therein will be properly chilled quickly, thereby making it possible to use a shorter tank than conventional without a corresponding decrease in the volume of produce chilled in a given period of time, or

to use a tank of conventional length and show an increase in the volume of produce handled in the same period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus wherein the packages will be conveyed by an overhead conveyor into a cooling zone including a pool of liquid refrigerant, and wherein the packages will, incident to their travel, be alternately lowered into the refr-gerating liquid and intermediately raised therefrom in a continuous cycle.

Other and incidental objects of the inventionwill appear during the following description, and in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a processing unit.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the receiving conveyor employed.

Figure 3 is a. section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure i is a section on the line ii-t of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view particularly showing the feed conveyor as well as the discharge conveyor serving the dipping and draining conveyor.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 8-8 of Figure 1 and showing the drive for the discharge conveyor.

Figure '7 is a plan view of the refrigerating tank mployed.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the tank.

Figure 9 is a transverse section particularly showing the tank coils.

Figure 10 is a transverse section particularly showing the agitators for the refrigerant.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a modified form of tank.

Figure 12 is a transverse section through the modified form of tank.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic plan view particularly showing the supporting frame of the dipping and draining conveyor, many of the parts being omitted for the sake of clarity.

Figure 1% is a diagrammatic side elevation of the structure seen in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section showing the input side of the dipping and draining conveyor.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section showing the output side of the dipping'and draining conveyor.

Figure 17 is a fragmentaryplan view showing the adjustment for the chain track of the dipping and draining conveyor. q

Figure 18 is a detail elevation of the drive sprocket of the dipping and draining conveyor.

Figure 13 is a detail elevation of the idler sprocket of the clipping and draining conveyor.

Figure 20 is a detail section on the line 26-23 of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a detail horizontal section particularly showing the drive chain and associated parts of the dipping and draining conveyor. I

Figure 22 is an elevation looking at the dipping and draining conveyor from the driven end there of, parts being shown in section.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary side elevation of the dipping and draining conveyor at the driven end thereof.

Figure 24 is a detail perspective view of one of the package holders employed. a

Figure 25 is a detail elevation particularly showing the upper end of one of the package holder jaws.

Figure 26 is an edge elevation of the structure seen in Figure 25.

Figure 27 is a detail elevation showing the mounting of the toggle bars of the package holders.

Figure 28 is a fragmentary plan view of the transfer conveyor.

Figure 29 is a detail perspective view particularly showing the mounting of the gate of the transfer conveyor.

Figure 30 is a detail section particularly showing the'drive 0f the distributing conveyor. 4

Figure 31 is a detail section of a modified form of' dipping and draining conveyor wherein the carrier tracks employed are arranged over the chain track.

Figure 32 is a fragmentary side elevation Of th structure seen in Figure 31.

Figure 33 is a detail section of a further modified form of dipping and draining conveyor wherein the carrier tracks are arranged beneath the chain track.

Figure 3a is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure seen in Figure 33.

Figure 35 is a fragmentary detail elevation showing one of the sprockets of the modification of Figures 33 and 34.

Figure 36 is a diagrammatic side elevation of ing conveyor.

Figure 37 is a fragmentary side elevation of the modified structure of Figure 36. v Figure 33 is a detail section of the modified structure of Figure 36.

Figure 39 is a fragmentary detail plan view' of the modified structure of Figure 36.

Figure 40 is a fragmentary detail section on the line 30-40 of Figure 39.

In accordance with the present invention, a processing plant is erected preferably along the lines of the arrangement shown in the diagram of Figure l of the drawings, wherein Ill indicates an office, it a. receiving room, l2 a. service room, it an engine room, and i a chilling chamber. The chamber it is preferably walled as an individual enclosure as an open tank of refrigerant is installed therein, as will later appear. Conventional field trucks are indicated at it, conventional refrigerator cars at it, and conventional transport trucks at H.

The produce is brought from the fields in the trucks iii whence it is deposited upon a receiving conveyor arranged in the room ii and indicated as a whole at it. As the produce is carried forward on this conveyor, it is first washed and then sorted, graded and packaged by workmen at the stations i9, whence the packages are manually deposited upon a feed conveyor, indicated as a whole at 23. The conveyor 23 carries the packages forward to a dipping and draining conveyor, indicated as a whole at 2i, when the packaged produce is chilled. From the conveyor 2!, the packages are deposited upon a discharge conveyor, indicated as a whole at 22, and from the conveyor 22 are received by a transfer conveyor, indicated as a whole at 23. The conveyor 23 has branches the use of which may be selectively chosen, as will presently appear, todeliver the packages to the transport trucks IT to be manually loaded thereon, or to a distributing conveyor, indicated as a whole at 2%. The conveyor 24 extends parallel to the cars it and packages dispersed along said conveyor may, by the use of portable chutes, one of which is indicated at 25, be manually loaded on said cars.

' I shall now proceed to describe the method and apparatus in detail and will begin with the receiving conveyor is which is arranged in the room Ii. a

The receiving conveyor I8 is more particularly I shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

- towards a waste conveyor 28, at the outer end of which latter is a chute 28 emptying into 9. disposal conveyor 30, all of the mechanism being suitably driven by a motor 3! with which is associated appropriate reduction gears in a gear box At one end of the conveyor I8 is, as brought out in Figure 2, a receiving section 33 at which produce from the field is deposited upon the belt 23, while at the middle portion of the conveyor is a washing section 34, above which is arranged a suitable shielded spray, indicated as a whole at 35, for discharging water onto the produce as it of the conveyor is a sorting, grading and packaging section 36. Thus, produce deposited up n the belt 28 at the section 33 of the conveyor will be washed at the section 34, and then manually sorted, graded and packaged at the section 33 by workmen at the stations l3.

Upon the packaging of the produce, the packages are manually placed upon the feed conveyor which is disposed at a right angle to the conveyor l3 and terminates at its forward end near the forward end of the chamber l4. At this point, it may be pertinent to note that certain kinds of produce are packaged in boxes, other kinds in crates, and still other kinds in bags etc. The term package as used herein shall accordingly be construed to cover any kind of a container but, in following the description of the invention, it will be found of aid to visualize say, an oblong box of celery. The packages are typically shown in the drawings and are indicated at 31.

As best seen in Figure .22 of the drawings, the feed conveyor 20 includes a frame 38 upon which are mounted like pairs of sprockets 39, only one pair of which is shown. The shaft of the pair of sprockets at the forward end of the conveyor is indicated at 40, and trained about said pairs of sprockets is a belt 4|. along the belt at the proper intervals are pairs of oppositely disposed lugs 42 located near the side edges of the belt. The drive mechanism for the belt will be later explained. However, it should be noted at this point that the packages 31 are placed upon the belt.4l one in front of each pair of lugs 42 to be engaged thereby so that the packages will be carried forwardly in definite and uniform spaced relation.

Upon reaching the forward end of the conveyor 2B, the packages 31' are picked up and carried by the dipping and draining conveyor 2|, and I shall now proceed to describe the dipping and draining conveyor and associated parts in detail.

Arranged within the chilling chamber I4 is an oblong refrigerating tank 43, shown particularly in Figures '7, 8, 9, and 10 of the drawings. This tank may be of cement or other approved material, and disposed therein near the side walls of the tank in parallel relation to said walls are partitions 44 defining channels 45 between the partitions and said side walls.- At one end of the tank, the partitions are provided in the upper margins thereof with inlet notches 43 while at the opposite end of the tank, the partitions terminate short thereof to provide outlets 41, and suitably mounted upon the tank to extend into the channels 45 opposite the notches 46 are agitators 48. These agitators may be electrically driven or of other approved character and include blades 49 for circulating a refrigerant 50 through the channels 45.- Preferably, water is used as a refrigerant.

Secured to the side walls of the tank 43 are racks 5|, and mounted upon said racks are refrigerating coils 52. The mechanism for circulating a refrigerating medium through the coils, such as a compressor and associated parts, may be of any conventional character and has not Spaced travels forwardly on the belt. At the forward end 6 v been shown. However, it should be noted that the coilswill be capable of maintaining the refrigerant 50 at a desired low temperature. Thus, when the agitators 43 are in operation, the refrigerant 53 will be ,drawn from the central portion of the tank 43 through the inlet notches 46 into the channels 45, whence the refrigerant will fiow through said channels over the coils 52 to discharge into the central portion of the tank through the outlets 41. The refrigerant will accordingly be kept chilled throughout.

In Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings, I have shown a modified form of tank 53. In this variation, parallel partitions 54 are disposed cenr trally of the tank to provide a channel 55 therebetween. At one end of the tank are inlet notches 5B in the partitions, like the notches 48, while at the opposite end of the tank are outlets 51, like the outlets 41. and suitabiy'mounted upon the partitions at the notches 53 is an agitator 58, like the agitators 43. Disposed between the partitions is a coil 53, like either of the coils 52. Thus, the refrigerant will be drawn in through the notches 56 to flow through the channel 55 over the coil 59 and emerge at the outlets 51.

Extending over the adjacent ends of the conveyors 20 and 22 as well as over the tank 43 throughout the major portion of the length thereof is, as particularly shown in Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings, the supporting frame of the dipping and draining conveyor 2i said frame being indicated as a whole at '60. This frame includes vertical posts 6| connected at their upper ends by stringers 62, and extending transversely between the posts are cross bars 83.

suspended from the cross bars is an endless chain track 84 I-shaped in cross section and having straight, parallel side portions connected by arcuate end portions 65 and 66 respectively. As

brought out in Figure 17, the side portions of the track at the terminals of the end portion 66 thereof are split diagonally, and connecting the parts are plates 61 having slots therein which receive bolts 68 so that said end portion of the track may be adjusted in the plane of the track. Supporting the track in position, as seen in Figure 22 ofthe drawings, are hangers 69 engaged with the side portions of the track.

Suspended below the track 64 at opposite sides thereof, as best seen in Figure 22, are parallel sills 10, and engaged with the cross bars 63 of the frame 60 are hangers 1i supporting the sills. Resting upon said sills are carrier tracks, one of which is indicated as a whole at 12, and the other of which is indicated as a whole at 13. As will be observed, the tracks 12 and i3 lie in parallel relation to the side portions of the track 84 in lateral, outward spaced relation thereto.

As brought out in Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings, the carrier track 12 is formed at one end with a high, straight terminal 14 and then curved and continued to form a low, straight portion 15, whence the track is curved in serpentine outline to form a sinuous portion 16 having alternating high bends I1 and low bends 18. 'At theadjacent end of the sinuous portion 16, the track is' thence formed with a high. straight terminal 19. The track 13 is ident cal with'the track 12 and includes a high, straight terminal 30, a sinuous portion 8i, having high bends 82 and low bends 83, a low, straight portion 84, and a high, straight terminal 85.

It is now to be observed that the low bends i8 and 33 of the sinuous portions 16 and Bi of the tracks 12 and N as well as the low, straight portions 16 and 84 of said tracks seat against the sills 10. 'Further, as will be noted. the straight terminals 15, 10, and 80 of the tracks as well as the crests of the high bends 11 and 82 of the sinuous portions of said tracks all lie in substantially the same plane sli htly above the chain track 04. The sinuous portions 16 and 8| of the tracks 12 and 13 may, of coursepcomprise any approved number of high bends and low bends but, as particularly seen in Figure 14, corresponding high bends of the tracks are disposed directly over the forward end wall of the tank 22, while the straight, low portions 15 and as of said tracks extend for a considerable distance over the adjacent ends of the conveyors 2t and 22. As brought out in Figure 22, the hangers II are disposed at the high bends 11 and 82 of the sinuous portions 16 and iii of the tracks, and

extending through the hangers to engage said bends are cap bolts 80 securing the tracks in position.

Fixed to the cross bars of the frame 60 at one end thereof, as particularly seen in Figures 18, 22 and 23 of the drawings, is a bracket 81, and mounted upon said bracket is a bearing 82. Aligning with the bearing lid is a bearing 29 fixed to the adjacent terminal crossbar of the frame, and journaled by said bearings is a vertical sprocket shaft 00 disposed centrally of the arcuate end portion 65 of the chain track dd. Fixed to the shaft below the level of the chain track is a drive sprocket 0i, and fixed to the upper end of the shaft is a drive gear 92. frame 60 is a conventional gear box 22 containing suitable reducing gears, and journaled through the box, as best seen in Figures l4, l5 and 16, is a drive shaft 92 to the adjacent end of which is fixed a gear 95 meshing with the gear 22. Mounted upon the frame 60 adjacent the gear box 98 is a suitable motor 96 the shaft of which extends into the gear box for driving the gears therein and so driving the shaft as at a reduced speed, the shaft 02, in turn,'driving the sprocket shaft 90 for rotating the sprocket 9 I.

' Fixed to the frame 60 at the end thereof opposite the shaft 90, as particularly seen in Figure 19 of the drawings, is a bracket 91, and mounted one upon the bracket and the other upon the adjacent terminal cross bar of the frame are aligned, like bearing frames 98, seen best in Figure Slidable upon the bearing frames are bearings 09 to which are fixed threaded rods I02 extending freely through the outer ends of the frames, and screwed on the outer ends of the rods are nuts i0i which may be turned for adjusting the bearings outwardly upon the frames while rods I02 are provided for pushing the bearings inwardly when so desired. J ournaled by the bear- Mounted upon the adjustment of the bearings 08, the chain track 8t being concurrently lengthened at the plates 81. ?rovision is preferably made for lengthening the track an amount equal to the length of a single link of the chain I00, or slightly less. Any greater slackness in the chain may be eliminated by removing one of the links thereof, and by splitting the chain track diagonally at the ends of the arcuate portion 60 thereof, the rollers I08 will be prevented from dropping into the gaps at said ends even though widened by the lengthening of the track,

The package carriers employed will now be described and, for convenience, said carriers are P indicated as a whole at B02.

Detaohabiy secured to the lower ends of the carrier links R02 of the chain I05,. as seen in Figure 22 of the drawings, are angle plates IIO from which project studs III, and pivoted upon said studs are carrier arms II2 provided at their upper ends wtih heads I I8, Journaled upon said heads are rollers lid which fit the carrier tracks 12 and it for movement therealong responsive to the pull of the drive chain, and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the heads H3 are rods lid to the lower ends of which are pivotally connected package holders, indicated as a whole at lit.

As particularly shown in Figures 24, 25, 26 and 27 of the drawings,'each of the package holders lit includes a head IIl provided medially with ears lit to which one of the rods H5 is attached, and formed on the ends of the head are depending yokes H9. Pivoted upon said yokes are companion jaws I20 provided near their upper ends with offsets I2I in which are formed slots I22, and formed on said jaws at their upper terminals are yokes i221 Formed on or otherwise secured to the jaws at their lower ends are bottom plates I2ti to engage beneath the ends of one of the packages 01 between the jaws, and formed on the jaws at their upper end portions are cross arms I20 provided at their ends with side plates I20 to confront the sides of the package, the arms being ings 99 is a vertical sprocket shaft I03 disposed centrally of the arcuate end portion of the chain track 84, and fixed to said shaft at the level of the drive sprocket 9| is an idler sprocket I0 Trained about the sprockets'tl and I06, as particularly seen in Figure 21 of the drawings, is a sprocket chain I05 embodying carrier links IdB which are provided, as best shown in Figures 21 and 22, with yokes I01 straddling the chain track 0d, and mounted on said yokes are rollers I08 which travel upon the side margins of the bottomflange of the track and support the chain I05 for movement beneath the track. As will be perceived in view of the foregoing description, the chain will be driven by the drive sprocket 9|, and looseness in the chain may be taken up by of a length, respectively, approximately equal to the width of the packag or slightly greater.

Slidably fitting in the slots I22 of the offsets I2I of the jaws I20 are pivot blocks I21 through which extend pins I20 pivotally connecting the jaws with the yokes I I9, and confined in said slots are springs I29 normally holding the blocks at the outer ends of the slots. Engaged with the upper ends of the jaws at a level above the pivot pins I 20 is a spring I30 normally holding the jaws open.

Extending between the upper terminals of the jaws I20 are companion toggle bars I3I connected with each other near their inner ends by a pivot pin I02 and extending at their outer end portions freely through the yokes I23 at the upper ends of the jaws and through the yokes II9 of the head 1., Formed in the outer end portions of said bars, as particularly seen in Figure 27, are slots I83 in which slidably fit pivot blocks I34, and extending through said blocks are pins I 35 ,pivotaily connecting the bars with the yokes I23,

Confined in the slots I33 are springsitil behind the blocks, and like springs I31in front of the blocks, the springs cooperating to normally hold the blocks centered in the slots.

As will now be seen in view .of the foregoing, pressure on the outer edges of the jaws I20 at their lower end portions will serve to close the jaws about one of the packages 31, when the bottom plates I24 will engage beneath the ends 'low the pivotal center of said bars, when the bars will function to lock the Jaws I20 closed in engagement with the package. The package Memos may then be picked up and securely carried by the holder. However, as will also be appreciated, subsequent downward pressure upon the outer ends of the toggle bars I will serve to rock said bars on the pivot pins I85 and swing the inner ends of the bars upwardly until the pin I22 lies above the pivotal center of the bars. Concurrently, the spring I30 will function to swing the lower ends of the jaws I20 outwardly and open the jaws to release the package.

Since, as shall presently appear, the packages are dipped in the refrigerant 50, provision is made for slight swelling of the packages with resultant increase in the length thereof as well as slight variation in the length of the packages normally. Assuming the jaws I20 to be closed tightly against opposite ends of a package, it will be seen that when the package swells longitudinally, the laws will slide outwardly on the blocks I21 and compress the springs I20, while the blocks I34 will be moved outwardly in the slots I33 of the toggle bars I3I to compress the springs I80, end thrust on the toggle bars being maintained by the springs I31 and serving to keep the jaws closed. A like result would take place in the event a package, when initially grasped by the Jaws I20, was slightly longer than standard, and spreading of the jaws would be automatically accommodated. Upon the subsequent opening of the jaws and release of the package, the parts would. of course, return to normal position. As the side plates I26 do not closely engage the sides of the package, provision for variation in the length of the cross arms I25 is unnecessary.

Returning now to the sprockets i and I04, I provide upon each thereof, as particularly seen in Figure 21, a plurality of uniformly spaced radial stops I38, four in number in the adaptation shown, and adjustably securing the stops to the sprockets are cap bolts I30. These stops are arranged to accord with the spacing of the carrier links I06 along the chain I and as the roller II4 of each of the arms II2 of the package carriers I09 reaches the terminal 05 of the carrier track 13, for instance, one of the stops on the sprocket 9| will engage behind said arm. Consequently, when the roller of the arm leaves the track terminal 85 and the package carrier continues around the sprocket with the chain I05, the free end of the arm will be held elevated A by the stop, as brought out in Figure 23, and'the load of the package carrier sustained by the stop until the roller of the arm reaches the terminal I4 o-f the carrier track 12 and engages thereon. Dropping of the carriers at the sprocket will thus be prevented while the rollers II4 will be guided from one track to the other. A like operation will, of course, take place at the sprocket I04 so that the rollers lid of the package carriers will be guided, upon leaving the terminal 19 of the track I2, to engage the terminal 80 of the track 13.

As previously noted. the packages 31 are fed to the clipping and draining conveyor 2| by the feed conveyor 20, and it therefore becomes necessary to synchronize the movement of the belt H of the feed conveyor with the movement of the drive chain I05 of the dipping and draining conveyor. This is done by taking the drive for the Ill belt from the shaft 04 which drives the sprocket 0|, as previously described. Fixed to the forward end of said shaft, as particularly seen in Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings, is a gear I40 meshing with a gear I on the upper endofa vertical shaft I42. and fixed to the lower end of the vertical shaft, as seen in Figure 22, is a gear I48 meshing with a gear I44 on the adjacent end of the shaft 40 of the drive sprockets of the conveyor belt 41. The belt u will thus be driven in synchronized unison withthe chain'l0l so that as each of the packages on said belt is moved forwardly beneath the dipping and draining conveyor, it will arrive in position at the proper. time to be picked up by one of the package holders IIO.

Upstanding at opposite sides of the feed conveyor 20 in spaced relation to the forward end thereof, as particularly brought out in Figures 5 and 22 ofthe drawings, are oppositely disposed posts I40, andjournaled upon the upper ends of said posts are horizontally disposed rollers I40 for closing the Jaws I20 of the package holders IIB, as will be explained. Upstanding at opposite sides of the discharge conveyor '22 near the forward end thereof are oppositely disposed posts I41 considerably higher than the posts I40, and journaled upon the upper ends :of the posts. I" are vertically disposed rollers I40 for releasing the jaws of the package holders, as will also be explained.

As shown in Figured of the drawings, the discharge conveyor 22 comprises a frame I48 at the ends of which are journaled like pairs of sprockets I60, only one pair of which is shown. Trained about said pairs of sprockets is a belt IBI driven by a suitable motor I02, and connecting the motor with one of the pairs of sprockets I50 is a drive chain or the like I53. The structural details of the discharge conveyor are unimportant, and it is unnecessary that the belt Ill thereof be driven exactly in time with the dipping and draining conveyor 2I.

The operation of the mechanism to engage and release a package as well as the operation of the dipping and draining conveyor will now be explained, and as the cycle is the same for all of the package carriers I00, description in this respect in connection with a single carrier will sutllce for all. For convenience, I will refer particularly to Figures 5, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22,- 23 and 24 of the drawings and will begin with the carrier shown at the right of Figure 23. Also, for convenience, I will assume that the other carriers shown in most of said figures of the drawings, typify different positions of the carrier selected.

Referring now to the carrier I09 shown at the right of Figure 23 and assiuning that the motor 88 is in operation. it will be seen that said carrier is traveling around the drive sprocket 0| and that the package holder IIB thereof is elevated to swing across the row of the packages 31 on the feed conveyor 20 to move, as brought out in Figure 22, into line with said packages. As the carrier reaches the terminal 14 of the track 12, the roller II4 thereof will engage said terminal, when the carrier will be supported by the terminal to sustain the holder IIG still in the same elevated position so thatthe carrier may move forwardly over the packages, when the roller II4 will descend to travel upon the low, straight portion 10 of the track. The package holder II6 will thus be lowered until the jaws I20 thereof are disposed at opposite ends of one of the packages 21 near the forward end of the row, while the plates I24 of said laws will be disposed to swing beneath the 11 package at the ends thereof when the laws are closed.

a As the carrier I continues forwardly and the roller II4 thereof progresses along the low, straight portion of the track I2, the Jaws I of the holder II8 will, as brought out in Figures I0 and 22, pass between the rollers I48. The rollwill then serve to bring the roller I I4 thereof into engagement with the initial high bend II of the sinuous portion I8 of the track I2 when, as best seen in Figure 15, the package will be raised and lifted over the forward end wall of the tank 43. As the carrier continues forwardly, the roller II4 will next ride into the adjacent low bend I8 of the sinuous portion of the track, when the package will be dipped into the refrigerant 00. Continuing, the roller II4 will then ride up the next high bend II of the sinuous portion of the track, when the package will be raised out of the refrigerant 00 to drain.

As will be perceived, the foregoing operation of first lowering and then raising the package holder II8 of the carrier I08 in blended sequence to alternately dip and intermediately drain the package will continue throughout the forward travel of the roller II4 along the sinuous portion of the track 12, when said roller will reach the high terminalfIS of the track. The carrier will then travel around the sprocket I04, when the roller II4 will engage the high terminal 80 of the track I8. Continuing from the terminal 80 of the track 13, the roller II4 of the carrier will travel along the high and low bends 82 and 88 respectively of the sinuous portion 8| of said track, so that the package will, as brought out in Figure 16, again be alternately dipped and intermediately drained in continuing sequence, as previously described, when the package will be finally lifted over the forward end wall of the tank 43.

As the roller I I4 of the carrier I09 then reaches the low, straight portion 84 of the track 18, the package will be lowered, as best brought out in Figure 16, to rest upon the belt ill of the discharge conveyor 22 at the adjacent end thereof, ornat least, to lie close to said belt, when, as the roller 1 I4 progresses along the track portion 84, the outer ends of the toggle bars I3I of the holder I I0 will pass beneath the rollers I48. These rollers I48 are at a height such that the outer ends of the toggle bars will be depressed thereby so that the bars will be rocked on the pivots I80 thereof and the inner ends of said bars swung upwardly until the pin I32 crosses the pivotal center oi said bars. The spring I30 will then function to swing the jaws I20 open and release the package, when the package will be carried forward by the discharge conveyor 22.

Upon reaching the adjacent end of the low, straight portion 84 of the track I3 as'the roller II4 of the carrier I00 continues forwardly subsequent to the release of the package, the roller will then ascend to the terminal 80 of said track, so thatthe empty package holder II8 will be raised to its original elevation. Continued movement of the carrier to pass around the sprocket 8| will then serve to bring the carrier to its oris'L. nal position, as noted at the beginning.

As will be perceived in view of the foregoing, the package will be dipped in the refrigerant 00 several times and drained several times as the package carrier I00 traverses the sinuous portion I8 of the track 12. Likewise, the package will be dipped several times and drained several times as the carrier traverses the sinuous portion 0| of the track 73. The number of times the package will be dipped and drained, incident to the travel of the package from one end of the tank 48 to the other end thereof and back again will, as will be appreciated, depend upon the number of bends in the sinuous portions of the tracks, and

.the number of said bends may, of course, be varied. In any event, however, the package will be dipped and drained a sufilcient number of times to repeatedly drain out the heated volume of refrigerant in the package and replace said volumewith a fresh volume of cold refrigerant. The heated refrigerant usually trapped in the central portion of the package will thus, sooner or later,

be replaced several times by fresh, cold refrigerant so that the package will be thoroughly and uniformly-chilled throughout.

It is desired to vemphasize the fact that, throughout each cycle of dipping and draining of the package a number of times, each dipping operation blends, without interruption, into an ensuing draining operation, which latter, in turn, blends, without interruption, into the next dipping operation, and so on. Thus, the alternate dipping and intermediate draining of the packrefrigerant is caused to constantly ebb and flow through the package with resultant quick and thorough chilling of the entire contents thereof.

The conveyors 28, 24 and 20 remain to be described and I shall take them up in order.

As best seen in Figures 28 and 29 of the drawings, the transfer conveyor 20 includes a branch I04 which extends laterally in one direction to a loading platform for the transport trucks I1, and an aligned branch I00 which extends laterally in the opposite direction to the conveyor 24. Associated with these branches is an arcuate gate I08 and, as will be observed, both of the branches aswell as the gate comprise a number of spaced rollers I01 upon which the packages 31 may travel by gravity.

Secured to the forward end of the discharge conveyor 22 is a pair of hooks I08, and the confronting ends of the branches I04 and I00 carry like pairs of books, indicated at I00 and I00 respectively. Projectinglaterally at the ends of the gate I08 are pairs of aligned pins I 0| which, in the instance shown. are formed by rods journaling the terminal rollers of the gate, and these pairs of pins are detachably engageable either with the hooks I08 and I00, or with the hooks I08 and. I80. Thus. as will be seen, the gate I08 may be arranged to extend between the conveyor 22 and the branch I04-of the conveyor 22 for conveying the packges 01 as they are delivered onto the gate from the conveyor 22, to the transportation trucks II, or may be turned end for end and arranged to extend between the conveyor 22 and the branch I00 oi the conveyor 20 for delivering the packages onto the distributing conveyor 24.

As best seen in Figure 30, the distributing conveyor 24 comprises a frame I82, at the ends of which are Journaled pairs of sprockets I80, one pair only being shown, and trained about said sprockets is a belt I04. The structural details of the conveyor are not especially important. However, it may be noted that a suitable reversible siderably longer than the hangers II.

packages may be distributed toward the opposite end or the conveyor 24.

Associated with the conveyor 24 is the chute 28 which may be of any approved character and is manually shiftable to extend between said conveyor and any selected one or the cars I8. Ac-

cordingly, as will be perceived, a workman may stand at the chute 28 and, as the packages 81 are brought forward by the conveyor 24, place said packages upon the chute for delivery by gravity into the car selected.

In Figures 31 and 32 oi the drawings, I have shown a variation in the structure of the dipping and draining conveyor 2| wherein the package carrier tracks are disposed directly over the side portions of the chain track. The chain track is indicated at I81 and the drive chain at I88, these parts being identical with the corresponding parts previously described and being mounted in like manner. Resting upon the side portions of the track I81 are carrier tracks I88 identical with the tracks 12 and 18 and being fastened in like manner. Thus, the necessity for separate sills for the carrier tracks, like the sills I8. is eliminated,

Coacting with the tracks I88 is a number of package carriers, indicated as a whole at I18. Each of these carriers includes an arm I" provided at its upper end with a head I12 upon which is journaled a roller I18 to engage the tracks I88, while at the lower end of said arm is a yoke I14. Pivoted to said yoke is a depending rod I18, like the rods H8, and connected to the rod I18 is one of the package'holders II8. Pivoted at one end to the yoke I14 is a drag link. I18 connected to the chain I88 in the same manner as the arms III, and fixed upon the rod I18 is a stop I18 engageable by the arms I1I when the roller I18 reaches the ends of the carrier tracks I88. This stop is adapted to support said arm in rearwardly tilted position, as suggested in dotted lines in Figure 32,

so that the roller will, upon leaving either end of either or the tracks I88, be sustained in position to engage an adjacent end of the other or said tracks. I

In Figures 33, 34 and 35 of the drawings, I have shown a further variation in the structure of the dipping and draining conveyor 2I wherein the carrier tracks are disposed directly beneath the side portions of the chain track. The chain track is indicated at I11, the drive chain at I18, the carrier track sills at I18, and the hangers for said sills at I88, these parts being like the corresponding parts first described and being mounted in like manner except that the hangers I88 are con- Resting upon the sills I18 are carrier tracks I8I, identical with the tracks I2 and I8.

Coacting with the tracks I8I is a number of package carriers, indicated as a whole at I82. Each of these carriers includes an arm I88 provided at one end with a head I84 upon which is iournaled a roller I88 to engage the tracks I8I, whilethe opposite end or said arm is connected with the chain I18in the same manner as the arms H2. Pivoted to the head I84-is a rod I88, like the rods I I8, and connected to the rod I88 is one of the package holders I I8.

Since the free end of the arm I83 does not, when the roller I88 reaches the ends of the carrier tracks I8I, rise above the level of the chain I18, it is necessary, in this modification, to provide, as seen in Figure 35, stops I88 on the lower sides of the drive chain sprockets, one of which is shown. The sprockets tor the drive chain I18 are. of course, like the sprockets 8I and I84 of the preferred form or the invention and the stops I88 are like the stops I88 and serve alike purpose. As will be perceived, the stops I88 are so disposed that one of said stops will engage beneath the arm I88 as the roller I88 leaves .either end of either 01' the tracks I8I for supporting the carrier I82 until the roller engages an adjacent end 01' the other of said tracks. Otherwise. this modification is identical with the dipping and draining conveyor first described and operates in like manner.

In Figures 36, 3'1, 38, 39 and 40 01 the drawings, I have shown a modified form of dipping and draining conveyor utilizing rolling gears. The

iced conveyor is indicated at I81, the refrigerating tank at I88, the frame at I88, the chain track at I88, and the drive chain at I8I, all of this structure being the same as first described and the feed conveyor I81 and chain IIII being driven in like manner.

Suitably supported below the side portions 01 the chain track I88 are rackbars I82, and connected to thecarrler links 01 the chain I8I are angle plates I83 corresponding to the plates II8 first described. Associated with the plates I88 is a number of package carriers, indicated as a whole at 84.

In the present instance, the package carriers I84 include gearsI88 which are iournaled upon the plates I83 and rest upon the rack bars I82 to coact therewith. Consequently, as the chain I8I is driven. the gears I88 will be caused to roll along said bars. Connected to the gears I88 eccentricaliy thereof are rods I88, and connected to the lower ends of said rods are package holders like the holders I I8, the holders which are carried by said rods being diagrammatically indicated in Figure 36 at I81.

One of the sprockets for the drive chain I8I is shown in Figures 39 and 40 and is indicated at I88. As will be appreciated, two of the sprockets I88 are used to correspond with the sprockets 8i and I84 oi the preferred construction, but a description of the modified structure employed in connection with sprocket I88 shown will suffice for both thereof.

Suitably fixed to the sprocket I88 at quadrantly spacedpoints are radial guides I88 each having a pair of spaced upstanding ears 288, and slidable through said ears are rods 28I to which are pinned or'otherwise detachably fixed upstanding outwardly curved dogs 282 slidably supported by said rods. Surrounding the rods are springs 288 pressing the dogs outwardly, and formed on each of the gears I88 at its inner side is a circular series 01 rack teeth 284 engageable by the dogs 282.

The dogs 282 are arranged upon the sprocket I88 to accord with the spacing of the gears I88 along the drive chain I8I so that as each of the gears reaches the adjacent and of one of the rack bars I82, one of the dogs 282 will engage the rack teeth 284 of said gear for locking the gear against free turning movement as the gear leaves the rack bar and starts to swing around the sprocket I88. The gear will thus be prevented from spinning under the weight of the package carried thereby or. under the weight of the package holder.

. 15 Should the groove between no two adjacent teeth 204 of the gear happen to exactly align with the forward end of the dog at the instant the dog first contacts said teeth, the spring 203 of the dog will yield until said groove does align. when the gear reaches the adjacent end of the other of the rack bars I92, the spring of the dog will similarly yield until the gear properly meshes with the teeth of said bar and the gear resumes its straight forward travel. Otherwise, the structure is as first described.

Assuming now that the conveyor is in operation, it will be seen that the holders I91 will, as the gears I95 roll along the rack bars I92, be raised and lowered by said gears for dipping the packages carried'thereby into the refrigerant in the tank I88 and then raising said packages out of the refri erant to drain,'in continuing sequence. Accordingly. the packages will be thoroughly chilled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

comprises introducing into a cooling zone including a pool of liquid refrigerant a suspended comestible mass penetrable by said liquid refrigerant, moving said mass through said zone, and,

. lowering and dipping said mass into said refrig- 1. The method of treating comestibles which comprises introducing into a cooling zone including a pool of liquid refrigerant a suspended cncomprises introducing into a cooling zone including a pool of liquid refrigerant a suspended comestible mass penetrable by said liquid refrigerant, moving said mass through said zone, and, while it is moving through said zone, alternately lowering and dipping said mass into said refrigerant so that the refrigerant will enter into said mass and wet the comestibles and raising the mass from the lowest points of dipping sufficiently to permit drainage of refrigerant therefrom.

3. The method of treating comestibles which comprises introducing into a cooling zone including a. pool of liquid refrigerant a suspended comestible mass penetrable by said liquid refrigerant, moving said mass through said zone, and, while it is moving through said zone, alternately lowering and dipping said mass into said refrigerant so that the refrigerant will enter into said mass and wet the comestibles and, while said mass is not being dipped, raising the mass from the lowest points of dipping suificiently to permit drainage of refrigerant therefrom.

4. The method of treating comestibles which comprises introducing into a cooling zone including a pool of liquid refrigerant a suspended comest-lble mass penetrable by said liquid refrigerant, moving said mass through said zone, and, while it is moving through said zone, lowerin and dipping said mass into said refrigerant during spaced periods of time so that the refrigerant will enter into said mass and wet the comestibles and raising said mass from the lowest points of dipping suiliciently to permit drainage of refrigerant therefrom during the periods of time intervening between the periods of dipping of said comestibles.

. 0 5. The method of treating comestibles which 7 erant so that therefrigerant will enter into said mass and wet the comestibles and then raising said mass from the lowest points of dipping suillciently to permit drainage of refrigerant therefrom;

v6. The method of treating comestibles which comprises introducing into a cooling zone including a pool of liquid refrigerant a suspended comestible mass penetrable by said liquid refrigerant, moving said mass through said zone, and, while it is moving through said zone, lowerin and dipping said mass into the refrigerant so that the refrigerant will enter into said mass and wet the comestibles, and raising said mass from the lowest points of dipping sufficiently to permit drainage. of refrigerant therefrom in a cycle of continuing sequence.

7. The method of treating comestibles which comprises introducing into a cooling zone includinga pool of liquid refrigerant a suspended comestible mass penetrable by said liquid refrigerant, moving said mass in a sinuous path through said zone, and, while it is moving through said zone, lowering and dipping said mass into the refrigerant so that the refrigerant will enter into said mass and wet the comestibles at corresponding portions of said-path and at opposite mass out of the refrigerant sufllciently to permit drainage of refrigerant therefrom.

8. The method of treating comestibles which comprises introducing into a cooling zone including a pool of liquid refrigerant a suspended package of comestibles penetrable by said liquid refrigerant, moving said package through said zone, and, while said package is moving through said zone, progressing the package through a series of operations each blending into the next of lowering and dipping the package into the refrigerant so that the refrigerant will enter into the package and wet the comestibles, and raising the package from the lowest points of dipping sufficiently to permit the refrigerant to drain therefrom to thereby cause the refrigerant to recurrently ebb and flow through the package.

FLCYD J. MCMICHAEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,129,664 Gilchrist et al Feb. 23, 1915 1,940,192 Sorber Dec. 19, 1933 1,940,347 Gay Dec. 19, 1933 1.987,170 Varney Jan. 8, 1935 2,299,177 Reilly "Oct. 20, 1942 A FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 404,344 Great Britain Jan. 15, 1934 

